What's the Delay?

To the Editors of the Rugby Advertiser and the Rugby Observer
Published on 12 December 2013

Dear Sir,
Rugby Town Centre Enhancement Scheme

The consultation regarding the so called Rugby Town Centre Enhancement Scheme (the part pedestrianisation of a small portion of Rugby Town Centre) ended on 25 October 2013. The questionnaire was very simple and straight forward.

The first page of the on-line questionnaire asked those completing the consultation to return the completed survey by 25 October 2013 "to enable this process to reach an early conclusion." The second page consisted of the basic question "Are you in favour of the scheme?" and there were two boxes to indicate preference, one labelled "In favour of the scheme" and the other labelled "Not in favour of the scheme". There was a third page requesting any additional comments about the scheme and a fourth page for contact details of the persons completing the consultation.

It is over six weeks since the consultation closed and there is still no sign of the result being made public. Now I understand that despite there being fewer than 650 valid responses the results will not be announced until after the New Year! How long does it take to count how many persons voted "In favour of the scheme" and how many voted "Not in favour of the scheme"?

We were told by Rugby Borough Council that if the majority voted against the scheme it would not go ahead. At the various community forum meetings I have attended and in doorstep discussions there has been a huge "Not in favour of the scheme" majority. Two of the three major political parties on Rugby Borough Council and some members of the party in control in Rugby are not in favour. Even the Member of Parliament for Rugby has publicly stated his opposition to the proposal. The delay is causing uncertainty and is affecting businesses proposing to set up in our town centre.

I urge the County Council to get on with it and let us know what we all already suspect, that the majority of residents and businesses are "Not in favour of the scheme".

Regards,
Bill Lewis
Long Furlong